Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of being housebound prior to January 29, 2009 is granted. The claim for aid and attendance is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to inconsistencies in the August 2013 VA examination report and a need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at 60 percent prior to February 9, 2012 and increased to 80 percent from February 9, 2012 through January 26, 2015. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of these ratings is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus on a de novo basis. The Veteran's left ankle disability, right hip disability, and left eye blindness are not supported by the evidence of record. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for neurology problems exclusive of fibromyalgia symptoms, bilateral hearing loss disability, and fibrocystic breast disease prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and affords him the benefit of the doubt. As such, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for PTSD, right hip disability, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. The Board has no further jurisdiction over these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and thus, he is granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back condition. The Board finds that these conditions are related to service and grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for VA examinations. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, a skin condition, and upper body skin cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service noise exposure or his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will need an additional VA medical opinion to determine if his hearing loss is related to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, which is associated with the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to uncertainty regarding the cause of his gait issues and whether they are related to his service-connected BPPV. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found no evidence of a permanent increase in the severity of the Veteran's hearing loss disorder during service, and thus denied service connection for aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no legal basis to award higher ratings. The claim for service connection for eye disorder and corneal scars was not addressed due to the nature of the appeal.